Domaine André Brunel : Les Cailloux 2023

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of the Domaine André Brunel Les Cailloux 2023

Tasting

Nose
The aromatic bouquet reveals fine complexity, blending scents of red fruit, cherry and kirsch. The whole is subtly enhanced by notes of liquorice, menthol, orange zest and delicate floral touches.

Palate
Full-bodied and silky, the palate offers refined, lively material, supported by supple, elegant tannins. It reveals delicious notes of strawberry and cherry, extending into a long, spicy and delicately saline finish.

Food and Wine Pairing

This red wine pairs perfectly with full-flavoured red meats or game-based dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Approachable in its youth for its fruit, this Les Cailloux 2023 will reveal its full depth after a few years in the cellar and can be kept until around 2036.

The Elegance and Complexity of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Wine

The Estate

Located in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône Valley, Domaine André Brunel is a family estate whose winemaking origins date back several centuries. It was in 1954 that Lucien Brunel officially created the brand to showcase his rolled pebble terroirs. Following the remarkable work of André Brunel from 1971 onwards, a pioneer of environmentally friendly sustainable farming, the estate is now headed by his son, Fabrice Brunel. He passionately carries on this legacy, producing wines renowned for their great precision.

The Vineyard

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine is made from vines averaging 60 years of age, cultivated according to sustainable farming principles, without herbicides or pesticides. The terroir consists of a mosaic of iconic plots (Bois de la Ville, Les Serres, Farguerol, Cansaud, Cabrières and Revès), combining draining gravel, red and blue clay, as well as chalky limestone. The whole is covered with the famous rolled pebbles, which store heat to promote optimal grape ripeness. Yields are limited to around 30 hectolitres per hectare, and the harvest is carried out entirely by hand.

The Vintage

2023 is considered an exceptional year for the estate. It stood out for its particularly long harvest, which began early, as far back as August. These weather conditions allowed time to pick each plot at perfect ripeness, resulting in a remarkable balance between freshness and concentration.

Winemaking and Ageing

To craft this Les Cailloux 2023, the grapes are fully destemmed before undergoing maceration in concrete vats. Extraction is carried out gently through regular pumping-over sessions over four weeks. To preserve the purity of the fruit and its freshness without any oak influence, the wine is then aged for 18 months in stainless steel tanks.

Grape Varieties

70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah.